Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas is about 510 road miles (821 km): roughly 9 h 7 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
| Total distance | 510 mi (821 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-55D → MEX-55 → EM 44 → MEX-200 → MEX-95D → MEX-160D → MEX-160 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-M40D, MEX-55D, MEX-95D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
On the road from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas
MEX-15D (358 mi) and MEX-55D (34 mi) carry about 77% of the 510 miles. It runs through 5 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico, Morelos. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-M40D and MEX-55D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 5–110 | 105 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 110–122 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 122–375 | 253 | Jalisco, Michoacán, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 375–378 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55D | 378–412 | 34 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-55 | 412–418 | 6 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 418–423 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 423–424 | 1 | State of Mexico |
| EM 44 | 424–432 | 8 | State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 432–435 | 3 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 435–440 | 5 | State of Mexico |
| MEX-200 | 440–444 | 4 | State of Mexico |
| local roads | 444–459 | 15 | State of Mexico, Morelos |
| connecting roads | 459–466 | 7 | Morelos |
| MEX-95D | 466–472 | 6 | Morelos |
| MEX-160D | 472–493 | 21 | Morelos |
| MEX-160 | 493–503 | 10 | Morelos |
| local roads | 503–510 | 7 | Morelos |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Jalisco → Michoacán (state line)
- Mile 357 of this route: Michoacán → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 454 of this route: State of Mexico → Morelos (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 377), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 453), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 477)
- Nature and outdoors: La Marquesa National Park (mile 432), Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (mile 453)
- Museums and history: Ixtlán del Rio (mile 51), Guachimontones (mile 96), Teatro Degollado (mile 126), Guadalajara city museum (mile 126), Teatro Morelos de Maravatío (mile 336), Cathedral of Atlacomulco (mile 377), Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum (mile 477)
Ixtlán del Rio
Between roughly 300 BC and AD 600, people made their home at Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río. Today visitors come for its circular temple, a rare design in Mesoamerica.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Teatro Degollado
On Guadalajara's central plaza, along Belén Street between Hidalgo and Morelos avenues, the neoclassical Teatro Degollado is known for its varied performances and artistic design.
Guadalajara city museum
Guadalajara's city museum (Museo de la Ciudad), in the historic center, opened on February 14, 1992, and covers the city's history and many sides of its culture.
Teatro Morelos de Maravatío
Opera singer Ángela Peralta performed at the opening of Maravatío's Teatro Morelos on January 11, 1879. Architect Rafael Guerrero Torres designed the building in a neoclassical style with French influence.
Cathedral of Atlacomulco
Dedicated to Divine Providence, the cathedral in Atlacomulco is the principal Catholic church in town and the seat of the local diocese.
La Marquesa National Park
Set in high-altitude conifer forest along the Mexico City–Toluca highway, La Marquesa National Park offers roadside eateries, horse and ATV rentals, mountain biking and camping, and marks the site of the 1810 Battle of Monte de las Cruces.
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Seven lagoons, three of them permanent, sit among pine, oak and fir forest above 3,000 meters in this park, decreed in 1936 on the Morelos–State of Mexico line. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and rowboats are popular here.
Tepoztlán Ex Convento Museum
Tepoztlán's Dominican monastery, built between 1555 and 1580, keeps original 16th-century murals in its cloister. Upstairs, the museum covers local daily life, faith, festivals and dances, and the complex is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
More drives to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Puebla to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Cuernavaca to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Zacatelco to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Mexico City to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Chiautempan to Zacualpan de Amilpas
- Apizaco to Zacualpan de Amilpas
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Amatitán
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to Nochistlán
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas?
About 9 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 510 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas?
About 510 miles (821 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Michoacán Level 4: Do Not Travel; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Morelos Level 3: Reconsider Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas use?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-55D, MEX-55, EM 44, MEX-200, MEX-95D, MEX-160D and MEX-160. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Zacualpan de Amilpas?
Closest to the road: Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site, mile 51, 0.5 mi from the route); Cathedral of Atlacomulco (cathedral, mile 377, 0.4 mi from the route); Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (national park, mile 453, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.